Israel Active

Naomi Cohen won gold at the 2012 RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships in Taiwan. Cohen gives hope to a new generation of Israeli athletes. Shahar Tibi finished fifth, Ofri Givati 10th, Noga Geller 12th and Adi Cohen in 18th place.

Before he came to Israel, Morten Berthelsen thought hummus was a purely vegan thing, but three years in the Holy Land have turned him into an addict. Now he selects outstanding hummus places to include in the travel guide he is writing.

Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s annual Hot List elected Israel’s Beresheet Hotel in the Negev as one of the world’s best new hotels. On the edge of the Ramon Crater at 800m above sea level, residents can explore the crater in open jeeps or peruse the ruins of the ancient Nabataen city of Avdat.

The IDF has some gadgets that 007 will soon be asking Q for.

500 million birds are currently migrating through Israel’s Hula valley on their way to Africa. See my video. Some of the Hula’s other species are making the news recently. The Hula painted frog was thought to be extinct and the African Monarch butterfly is once again using the lakes on its migration route.

Oct 25-27 sees a 3-day architectural fest in Jerusalem where visitors will be given free, guided tours of many villas, synagogues, churches, hospitals and private apartments free of charge.

(Thanks to Life in Israel) In Tel Aviv, artists literally brighten up the streets by painting pictures on manhole covers. It opens up a “hole” new world of art.

The concert is expected to form part of their 2013 world tour. May is the target date, with HaYarkon Park the venue. The UK’s monsters of synth pop last performed here in 2009.

January will see 15 performances of the exciting Irish tap dancing troupe in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

For those that missed King David’s 3052nd birthday in June, I’m forwarding his request to publicise the video of his Tel Aviv street party - in the spirit the recent festive Simchat Torah celebrations. Thanks to the King David Museum.